Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin finds it amusing that certain pundits and experts have claimed India holds an unfair advantage in the Champions Trophy by playing all their matches at a single venue in Dubai. Despite criticism from fans and rival teams, Ashwin remains firm in his stance that success is determined by performance, not by location.
“A huge section of participating teams, fans, and experts have complained about the fact that India have profited by having the luxury of playing in Dubai,” he acknowledged. However, to counter the argument, Ashwin pointed to South Africa’s 2009 Champions Trophy campaign, where they played all their matches at one venue but failed to qualify.
“I want to clear one thing. Tournaments are won based on performances, not excuses. It makes me laugh after watching the same questions being repeated in the press conferences to captains and coaches,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. “South Africa had played all of their matches at the same venue in the 2009 Champions Trophy, they did not even qualify. India last played ODIs in UAE in the Asia Cup, it was before COVID,” he added.
India boasts an impeccable record in Dubai, having won the 2018 Asia Cup and continuing an unbeaten run in the 2025 Champions Trophy. Ashwin was quick to call out opposition teams for focusing on India’s venue instead of their own shortcomings.
“Other teams have toured UAE and played since then, but not India. I know one team; they come to India, lose 4-0, then say that the pitches were not good. Focus on yourselves,” he remarked. “Indian cricket is one proud point for this country. To even throw mud on our players because somebody else is setting the narrative, please don’t go for it,” he added.
While some teams have criticized the scheduling, New Zealand, despite traveling nearly 7,000 kilometers during the tournament, has remained silent on the issue, further proving Ashwin’s point that success is determined by adaptability and skill rather than external factors.
